The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-04-20
t H f
WEDNESDAY Apl
April Goth.
ABOUT PLURALITIES.

There is always danger in official
pluralities. They are usually suggestive
OF weakness or abuse; sometimes of
both. OF course in times of emergency
power may be concentrated in one or
two individuals with great propriety
and advantage, but as a rule there is
danger IN 50 doing. The practice of
concentrating authority has prevailed
In this country, more especially of late,
while political evolution has steadily
tended in a direction opposite to popu-
Lar control. We need not specify cases
by way of illustration as these must oc-
cur to any well-informed person. The
inquiry however is a vital one,
whether this tendency is in the right
direction or not. Our own judgment is
decidedly against it. We think it
is probable that it may result in very
embarrassing complications.
The most serious drawback of such
system is the temptation to abuse of
which is at all times repugnant to an
exalted sense of public duty. But use
and opportunity blunt the sense of right,
and men in time come to do things as a
matter of course which they would re-
coil from if bluntly proposed to them
without previous familiarity or training.
In the conduct OF public business it has
been deemed essential to an efficient
and honest administration in all coun-
tries to create system of checks and
counter-checks, involving the employ
ment of a multiplicity of officials, diff
terlng In this respect from private or
corporate enterprise conducted solely for
the purpose OF money making And the
difference in purpose and essence be-
tween Government business and private
business is SO broad as to mark very
clearly the necessity for radical differ
ence in the methods o their respective
bureaus. In private or corporate
affairs the more centralized the control
the more efficient the management.
Economy and simpliication of methods |
are the objects aimed at. In Govern !
ment business the aim is to prevent |
abuse by the creation of reacting
checks, as we have already said, involv-
ing the employment of staff of officers
who are popularity supposed to be
busted in making work for themselves.
Such is not the case, however. Their
work, if honestly and efficiently per-
that depends upon the
heads of departments the
only check the taxpayers have against
favoritism and public plumber
In this country we have, under the
law, an efficient system of checks upon
the conduct of public business. The
question is whether these checks have
been rendered abortive by concentra-
ion of authority and resultant abuse of
patronage. We are not sitting in judg-
nent, however, and cannot therefore
say whether this question should be
answered affirmatively or in the mega
i've. But the mere fact that it constantly
suggests itself to the minds of intelIi-
GENT people is enough to warrant inquiry
Ind thorough overhaul of every pub
ic department and bureau If it should
appear after such an investigation that
he suspicion of wrong-doing is un-
ounded, the knowledge of this fact
would go far to restore public conf ,
Ience; but if the reverse position should
'e demonstrated steps could be taken to /
nforce reform. For it should ever be
,OFne in mind that the administrators,
{ public affairs by any Government is
imply the management of the peoples f
and is in the nature of pub I
&c trust.